Well Storied Homes

Well-storied homes often belong to well-storied discount shoppers, dumpster divers, thrift store thrifters, and roadside wranglers with well-storied lives. I love expensive furniture, luxurious linens, fine china, and hand-woven rugs, but many of my most treasured and unique pieces that give our house style were found, thrifted, or haggled for and not purchased from a design center showroom. Clockwise: like the vintage midcentury bookcase I bought at TheModernVault.com, the TV tray teacart I found in my grandmother's basement then refinished and hand painted, the upcycled jam jars I transformed into string jar hostess gifts for the holidays, the vintage linens and blankets I stitched into bed pillows and shams with copious country charm, the hollow-core lauan door turned built-in desk I salvage from the dumpster during our "Bungled Bungalow" makeover, or the chinoiserie brass pendant light I spray painted kelly green for a quick and stylish update, it all added loads of charm to our home while helping reduce consumption with very little expense. Thrift stores, flea markets, yard sales in upscale and retirement communities, trolling the streets on trash night (some neighborhoods encourage this and post items in real-time on social media), vintage and antique shops, as well as your family's basements and attics are perfect places to start an underconsumption journey to create a well-storied home.

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I was named an expert in a Rent. article. Check out the featured article: Underconsumption Core: Redefining Minimalism | Rent.